37 killed, 80 injured in Peshawar Qissa Khawani Bazaar

Peshawar: At least 37 people, including children and women, were killed and 80 others injured in a powerful bomb blast near Khan Raziq police station of Qissa Khawani Bazaar here on Sunday.

According to deputy medical superintendent DMS of Lady Reading Hospital 37 people were killed in the attack while more than 80 injured. He said that they were providing them treatment and emergency had already been declared and more doctors and nurses called on the duty. The victims included 6 children and two females, said the hospital administration. A family lost 13 beloved ones.

According to AIG Bomb Disposal Unit Shafqat Malik about 200 kilograms of explosive material was packed in car which was detonated with remote control. The blast was so powerful that it destroyed dozens of shops and vehicles. A big fired erupted soon after the blast which engulfed different shops and market plazas.

Citizens and rescue workers despite the fire rescued the trapped people and shifted the injured to nearby Lady Reading Hospital. Young people were seen to use their motorbikes to shift the injured to hospital. Young workers of different political parties including Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf PTI, Jamaat-e-Islami JI reached LRH to donate blood.

Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the area. Many people received burn injuries and shifted to burns unit of LRH.

Meanwhile to condemn the attack and express solidarity with the affected families the trader organization, Tanzeem-e-Tajiran announced three-day mourning.

Eye witnesses said the car was parked some 20 meters away from Khan Raziq Police station. The blast occurred at the time when a larger number of people were busy in shopping and other routine activities. The site of the blast is one of the busiest places of the historic bazaar.

The blast occurred a week after twin suicide blasts at a local Church had killed more than 80 people. This Church is hardly 300 yards away from the site of the bazaar blast.

Senior Minister Sikander Sherpao visited the site and said that federal and provincial governments have to do more to control the terrorism. He said the resolution passed the All Parties Conference should be implemented in letter and spirit.